Youth football: It’s dried up - and that doesn’t suit Otters

Midhurst and Easebourne under-14s line up for the camera - follow suit and send your team picture to steve.bone@chiobserver.co.uk

Published:14:08Saturday 18 January 2014

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There’s action from under-ten, under-11 and under-14 football in our first round-up of 2014.

Get involved in our coverage - on this website and in the Observer - by sending your youth football reports and team pictures to steve.bone@chiobserver.co.uk.

UNDER-11

Rustington Otters 4 Chichester City Colts 7

In their first game since the beginning of December, the Colts faced the Otters for the second time this season.

The Otters started quicker and scored twice in the first 20 minutes. The Colts shook of their rustiness and scored through Jake O’Brennan, only to concede again a minute later. The Colts rallied again and got one back with a cool finish from Ryan Johnson to trail 3-2 at the break,

The Colts levelled with another calm finish from Johnson. O’Brennan scored his second and third goals in a three-minute spell to make it 5-3.

Jack Tilbury got on the scoresheet before Rustington were awarded a penalty which was converted to make it 6-4 with ten minutes to play.

The Colts knew the next goal was vital and Jake Wells bombed forward from left-back and took it round the keeper to secure the points.

On a bitterly-cold Sunday morning, it didn’t take Wick long to take the lead. But Chi battled back with a fine goal from Harry Angell.

Both teams hit posts before Wick broke through to make it 2-1.

It looked all over but Colts captain Joe Middleton equalised.

Both teams had good chances in the final minutes, but a draw was fair.

Selsey Seals 1 Angmering Youth Black 1

Angmering were bidding to catch up with Selsey on points but Selsey maintained their lead at the top of the table.

In the first half, great work from Jones in goal, Sherlock on his season’s debut and Trumper at the back, marshalled by Grocott, kept the score at 0-0 until five minutes from half-time.

Devlin was making his debut in a Seals shirt and Ayling foraged in midfield but Angmering took the lead. The ball broke for one of their forwards, whose shot was parried by Jones only to ricochet off Montague and into an empty net.

Fedioni, Weaver and Drain all came on and did well.

The second half saw Selsey regroup and, after a foul five yards inside the Angmering half, snatched the equaliser.

Montague put the ball high into the area and it was headed into his own net by an Angmering defender.

Selsey pushed hard for the winner but, despite several good chances, were unable to find the winner.

Jones was brought into action late on, stopping a shot on the line.

UNDER-14

It has been a fantastic season so far for the Sussex Schools FA.

The under-14s are unbeaten and top their league. They are also through to the national cup quarter-finals, where they host Hertfordshire.

They have notched impressive victories over Surrey (3-0) and Buckinghamshire (4-3) as well as recording a creditable 1-1 draw away to Middlesex.

The squad boast players from across the county. They travel this Saturday (Jan 18) to Thamesmead to face a tricky Kent side before facing Hertfordshire in the national cup.

Captain Jack Dunmore of Cavendish School, Eastbourne, has led the team admirably and Sussex are becoming an unstoppable force. Their victory against Inner London in the last 16 of the national cup showed how well they are progressing - they came home from Walthamstow with a 2-0 victory after goals from James Daly (Dorothy Stringer School) and Charlie Williamson (Chichester High).

Manager Ross Maryan, of Uckfield Community College, said: “We have tried to put together an attacking but organised side. These boys are proud to represent their county and so far have done themselves very proud.”